Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Watermelon Cucumber Salad is the ultimate refreshing summer side dish. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and crunchy flavors that make this salad better than takeout. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe with Pineapple and Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes.
Why This Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint Is Pure Comfort
- Light and refreshing, perfect for hot summer days
- Easy to make with just a few simple ingredients
- Better than takeout, with a unique combination of flavors
- Versatile – serve as a side dish or light main course
What You'll Need for Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Feta Cheese
- Mint Leaves
- Lime Juice
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Red Onion
- Optional: Pineapple
- Optional: Jalapeño
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Watermelon: Seedless watermelon works best for this salad.
- Cucumber: English cucumbers have fewer seeds and a thinner skin, making them ideal for this recipe.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Mandoline Slicer — Ensures even, thin slices for perfect salad presentation. → See on Amazon
- Salad Spinner — Quickly dries lettuce and other greens for a crisp salad. → See on Amazon
How to Make Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
- Prepare the watermelon: Cut the watermelon into cubes, removing the rind and any remaining seeds.
- Slice the cucumber: Using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife, thinly slice the cucumber into half-moons.
- Crumble the feta: Crumble the feta cheese into a large bowl.
- Add the watermelon and cucumber: Add the watermelon and cucumber slices to the bowl with the feta.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the watermelon and cucumber mixture. Toss gently to combine.
- Add the mint and serve: Roughly chop the mint leaves and add them to the salad. Toss gently and serve immediately.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
- Common mistake and fix: Don't over-dress the salad. Start with a small amount of dressing and add more to taste. You can always add more, but you can't take it away.
- Tip: For a spicy kick, add thinly sliced jalapeño to the salad.
- Tip: Make this salad up to an hour ahead of time, but don't add the dressing until just before serving to prevent the watermelon from breaking down.
Storing & Reheating Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the watermelon, cucumber, and dressing up to an hour ahead of time.
Freezing Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Not recommended for this salad.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a sweeter salad, use a ripe, sweet watermelon.
- Best substitution: If you don't have fresh mint, you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of dried mint.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your salad is too dry, add a little more olive oil and lime juice to the dressing.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality chef's knife — Ensures clean, even slices for a professional-looking salad. → Check price on Amazon
Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Feta Cheese
- Mint Leaves
Seasonings
- Lime Juice
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Red Onion
- Pineapple
- Jalapeño
Instructions
- Prepare the watermelon: Cut the watermelon into cubes, removing the rind and any remaining seeds.
- Slice the cucumber: Using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife, thinly slice the cucumber into half-moons.
- Crumble the feta: Crumble the feta cheese into a large bowl.
- Add the watermelon and cucumber: Add the watermelon and cucumber slices to the bowl with the feta.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the watermelon and cucumber mixture. Toss gently to combine.
- Add the mint and serve: Roughly chop the mint leaves and add them to the salad. Toss gently and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a sweeter salad, use a ripe, sweet watermelon.
- Best substitution: If you don't have fresh mint, you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of dried mint.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your salad is too dry, add a little more olive oil and lime juice to the dressing.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for this salad.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the watermelon, cucumber, and dressing up to an hour ahead of time.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbs: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sat. Fat: 4g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the watermelon, cucumber, and dressing up to an hour ahead of time. However, don't add the dressing until just before serving to prevent the watermelon from breaking down.
This could be due to over-dressing the salad or adding the dressing too early. See the pro tips and troubleshooting notes for more information.
While this salad is best in the summer with fresh, ripe watermelon, you can use pre-cut watermelon from the grocery store in the winter. The flavor won't be as intense, but it will still be delicious.
No, this salad is best served cold and does not require cooking.
If you don't have fresh mint, you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of dried mint.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
